Reciprocating propeller



,J. W. GAPEN. Reciprocating+Propellen No. 223,882. Patented Jan. 27, 1880.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. (JAPEN, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

RECIPROCATING PROPELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,882, dated January 2'7, 1880.

Application filed November 7, 1879.

Propellers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of l the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a side view of the propeller as applied to the stern of a vessel; Fig. 2, a vertical section thereof through 00 w of Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 a rear view.

- My invention relates to propellersfor vessels, and may be correctly designated as a sternthrust propeller, and it consists in the construction hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A refers to the propeller, which, in this instance, is represented as made octagonal,in form of a truncated cone, and is provided wit-h a series of wings or valves, B, hinged or hung, as shown, so as to be closed on the outward thrust of the propeller, in order to olfer the most resistance to the body of water, and to be opened on the inward thrust, so as to offer the least resistance.

In order to prevent the win gs or valves from swinging so far back when thrown open as to prevent the possibility of the water getting under the same so as to force them closed, one or more checks or stops, 0, are formed on the inside of the propeller just back of the valves, preferably a short distance back of their hin ges.

While the form of propeller shown is con sidered the best, yetI do not intend to limit myself thereto, for the form of it may be hexagonal,four-sided, circular, or other form, or be a flat plate with hinged valves, or adisk more or less. concave or tubular; and the valves in number may be more or less than shown, the number of six being used in the drawings only to illustrate their application and operation.

The propelleris closed at the forward end, and has a shaft projecting therefrom through the stern of the vessel into the interior of the latter, where it is connected to a piston-shaft oprudders are used.

erated by suitable mechanism connected to the steam-engine. It is made large or small, according as a large or small vessel is to be propelled by it; and when large is made of boileriron, each side being a separate piece and provided with flanges, so that the several pieces can be riveted one to the other, and the number and size of the valves depend on the size of the propeller. Generally the valves need not exceed one foot in length. A small propeller can be made of galvanized iron bent by suitable machinery or tools into the shape desired.

In order to protect the propeller .from violence by heavy waves, a shield is provided therefor, which shield generally conforms to the configuration of the propeller, and is provided with a number of openings, as shown in the drawings, so that water may pass therethrough, and is bolted to the stern of the vessel, it being provided with flanges E for that purpose. and the shaft of the latter passes through the head thereof, to which head the sides of the shield are secured.

The vessel to which this propeller is applied works more satisfactorily when provided with two sterns, the same being far enough apart to allow the propellers to work with ease, and when such is the case two Screw propellers may also be used in both of these sterns, or only one can be used, in which event it may be placed beneath the propeller; and-when the screw-propeller is used in connection with the thrust-propeller more speed in the forward movement of the vessel is obtained, and the vessel can be moved backward as well as forward. 4

By the construction described it is claimed that greater speed is obtained and that the rolling of the vessel is greatly reduced. I

In operation, on the backward thrust of the propeller the valves are closed and the resistance of the water to the thrust of the propeller moves the vessel forward, while 011 the forward thrust or drawing of the propeller the valves are opened and thewater passes therethrough, meeting with but little resistance, and allowing the propeller to be drawn backward with comparative ease.

This shield fits around the propeller,

Having described my invention, what I with valves B and stops 0, adapted to operate claim isas described, and combined with a conical 1. A conical thrust-propeller provided with shield, D, provided With openings,.the propel- 15 openings andhinged valves therefor, and opler operating within the shield, as and for the 5 erated Within a conical shield provided with purposes described.

openings, all substantially as set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 2. The conical thrust-propeller A, provided hzwe hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th with hinged valves B and stops 0, located day of November, 1879.

back thereof, the several parts being adapted JAMES W. CAPEN. [L. s.] 10 to operate as described, for the purpose set Witnesses:

forth. JOSHUA WHITNEY,

' 3. The conical thrust-propeller A, provided 0. BRONSON. 

